County Cricket Round-Up - 28th July 2013

The North Group of the 2013 Friends Life t20 was completed this afternoon, with Nottinghamshire earning a home quarter-final tie by beating Lancashire and Durham easing past Derbyshire to secure a potentially crucial third place.

Leicestershire captain Josh Cobb ensured that his side finished on a high in the Friends Life t20. He took three for nine with his off-breaks and then clubbed an unbeaten 44-ball 52 as the Foxes won by 10 wickets with almost eight overs to spare. Yorkshire actually began quite well after electing to bat as Alex Lees made a run-a-ball 32. However, Cobb ripped through the middle-order and they collapsed from 51 for one to be all out for 105. There were also two wickets apiece for Shakib Al Hasan and Robert Taylor. Cobb and Greg Smith (39 not out off 30 balls) then knocked off the runs with ease.

Durham kept their hopes of making the quarter-finals alive by beating Derbyshire by 37 runs at Chester-le-Street. They now sit third in the North Group and must wait on results from other groups. Gordon Muchall smashed 66 from only 36 balls to set up their total of 187 for three. Mark Stoneman (47 off 34) and Phil Mustard (24 off 21) added 54 for the first-wicket, while Scott Borthwick clubbed two sixes during a 23-ball 31. Derbyshire then got off to brisk start as Chesney Hughes hit 34 off 22 balls, but they lost wickets regularly and Dan Redfern was the only man to prosper thereafter with 43 off 34 balls. Graham Onions, Chris Rushworth and Borthwick took a brace of wickets apiece.

Alex Hales hit 82 off 52 balls as Nottinghamshire guaranteed themselves a home quarter-final by beating second-placed Lancashire at Trent Bridge. Hales added 59 in six overs with Michael Lumb (30 off 15) for the first-wicket to set up the home side’s total of 194 for six. Lancashire then lost the in-form Stephen Moore first ball to Samit Patel and folded for 134 in their run chase. Patel ended with three for 34, while fellow left-arm spinner Graeme White returned career-best figures of five for 22.

The tour match between Sussex and the Australians petered out into the expected draw on the final day at Hove. James Taylor completed his century to cap a good day on which he was named in England’s 14-man squad for the Thursday’s third Ashes Test, while Ed Cowan kept his name in the hat for the tourists with an unbeaten 77 in their second innings. Lewis Hatchett continued to impress and added two wickets to his first innings haul of two for 38 to end with match figures of four for 66. Full report

Tomorrow’s FLt20 Fixture:South Group, Kent v Hampshire at Canterbury (1910 BST start)Kent are already out of the competition, but achieved the unique feat of beating leaders Hampshire earlier this month so will be eyeing the double. The Royals, meanwhile, know that a win will guarantee them a home quarter-final.

Weather Forecast: Tomorrow will be largely sunny with occasional showers. Temperatures will peak at around 22 degrees Celsius.